Donald Clifford Fehrle

Donald Clifford Fehrle, age 95, of Union, passed from this life to his eternal life to rejoin his family and friends of whom went before him.           A member of the greatest generation, and a proud WWII Veteran, Mr. Fehrle passed away at the Iowa Veterans Home on Saturday, July 20th. Per his wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. Memorial services will be held at a later date under the direction of the family. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com . The Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown is caring for cremation services. Ph. 641-844-1234.           Born on Christmas Eve of 1923, he was the son of Carl John and Amanda (Schaper) Fehrle, of rural State Center, IA. Growing up on the family farm, Donald loved farming, tractors along with the great outdoors and gardening. He was a baptized and confirmed member of St. John Lutheran Church north of State Center. He graduated from the State Center High School and served our country honorably in US Army in WWII from enlisting on November 20th, 1944 until honorably discharged on August 21st, 1946.           He was united in marriage to Wilma Vickers and to this union, a daughter, Deborah Jean, was adopted. In 1972, he was married to Bette Vinton in Whitten and shared 14 years of marriage until her passing in 1986.           Over the years, Don would continue to farm with his parents and work with other neighboring farms. In the mid-1960’s, his family decided to sell the farm and retire to Union, Iowa, where Don enjoyed employment at Sorenson/Gianetto Implement of Union (later Gianetto, Inc.) He worked there until his retirement driving a tractor truck making pick-ups and deliveries.           Over the years, Don was active in the VFW, American Legion, Union Kiwanis Club, Union and Whitten Fire Dept.’s, Union Community Church, the Betterment Association and held a seat on the city council as well as many other volunteer groups, clubs and boards. Volunteering and donating his time was always a must as he loved to be an active part of his communities of Union and Whitten- always there to help anybody with anything at any time – whether family, friends, neighbors or strangers. Tractors were his true past-time.           Don always enjoyed being around his two grandsons, Andrew and Joel, road trips, family gatherings and living room political conversations. Never afraid to speak his mind, he never backed down from a good argument. Over the years as the stories of Don and his outtakes and adventures, he earned the name “Fearless.”           Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Deborah (Paul) Clemons; grandsons – Andrew (Lisa) and Joel (Angeline); great-grandchildren – Andrew, Jr., Alexandria, Cierra, Hailey, Joel, Jr. and Elizabeth along with extended greats- Dameon Oswalt, Ethan Swanson, Tabitha Thompson and Tiffany Thompson as well as his sister-in-law Helen Fehrle.           In death, Don rejoined his wife, Bette, his parents, sister – Doris Kunz and brothers - Ralph and Elmer, and brother-in-law Bill Kunz.